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TodayisWednesday,January11,2017

RepublicActNo.26September25,1946

ANACTPROVIDINGASPECIALPROCEDUREFORTHERECONSTITUTIONOFTORRENSCERTIFICATES
OFTITLELOSTORDESTROYED

Section1.CertificatesoftitlelostordestroyedshallbereconstitutedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthisAct.

Section2.Originalcertificatesoftitleshallbereconstitutedfromsuchofthesourceshereunderenumeratedas
maybeavailable,inthefollowingorder:

(a)Theowner'sduplicateofthecertificateoftitle

(b)Thecoowner's,mortgagee's,orlessee'sduplicateofthecertificateoftitle

(c) A certified copy of the certificate of title, previously issued by the register of deeds or by a legal
custodianthereof

(d)Anauthenticatedcopyofthedecreeofregistrationorpatent,asthecasemaybe,pursuanttowhichthe
originalcertificateoftitlewasissued

(e)Adocument,onfileintheregistryofdeeds,bywhichtheproperty,thedescriptionofwhichisgivenin
saiddocument,ismortgaged,leasedorencumbered,oranauthenticatedcopyofsaiddocumentshowing
thatitsoriginalhadbeenregisteredand

(f)Anyotherdocumentwhich,inthejudgmentofthecourt,issufficientandproperbasisforreconstituting
thelostordestroyedcertificateoftitle.

Section3.Transfercertificatesoftitleshallbereconstitutedfromsuchofthesourceshereunderenumeratedas
maybeavailable,inthefollowingorder:

(a)Theowner'sduplicateofthecertificateoftitle

(b)Thecoowner's,mortgagee's,orlessee'sduplicateofthecertificateoftitle

(c) A certified copy of the certificate of title, previously issued by the register of deeds or by a legal
custodianthereof

(d)Thedeedoftransferorotherdocument,onfileintheregistryofdeeds,containingthedescriptionofthe
property,oranauthenticatedcopythereof,showingthatitsoriginalhadbeenregistered,andpursuantto
whichthelostordestroyedtransfercertificateoftitlewasissued

(e)Adocument,onfileintheregistryofdeeds,bywhichtheproperty,thedescriptionofwhichisgivenin
saiddocument,ismortgaged,leasedorencumbered,oranauthenticatedcopyofsaiddocumentshowing
thatitsoriginalhadbeenregisteredand

(f)Anyotherdocumentwhich,inthejudgmentofthecourt,issufficientandproperbasisforreconstituting
thelostordestroyedcertificateoftitle.

Section4. Liens and other encumbrances affecting a destroyed or lost certificate of title shall be reconstituted
fromsuchofthesourceshereunderenumeratedasmaybeavailable,inthefollowingorder:

(a)Annotationsormemorandaappearingontheowner'scoowner'smortgagee'sorlessee'sduplicate

(b)Registereddocumentsonfileintheregistryofdeeds,orauthenticatedcopiesthereofshowingthatthe
originalsthereofhadbeenregisteredand

(c)Anyotherdocumentwhich,inthejudgmentofthecourt,issufficientandproperbasisforreconstituting
theliensorencumbrancesaffectingthepropertycoveredbythelostordestroyedcertificateoftitle.

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Section5.Petitionsforreconstitutionfromsourcesenumeratedinsections2(a),2(b),3(a),3(b),and/or4(a)of
thisActmaybefiledwiththeregisterofdeedsconcernedbytheregisteredowner,hisassigns,orotherperson
havinganinterestintheproperty.Thepetitionshallbeaccompaniedwiththenecessarysourcesforreconstitution
and with an affidavit of the registered owner stating, among other things, that no deed or other instrument
affectingthepropertyhadbeenpresentedforregistration,or,iftherebeany,thenaturethereof,thedateofits
presentation,aswellasthenamesoftheparties,andwhatevertheregistrationofsuchdeedorinstrumentisstill
pendingaccomplishment.Ifthereconstitutionistobemadefromanyofthesourcesenumeratedinsection2(b)
or 3(b), the affidavit should further state that the owner's duplicate has been lost or destroyed and the
circumstancesunderwhichitwaslostordestroyed.Thereupon,theregisterofdeedsshall,novalidreasontothe
contraryexisting,reconstitutethecertificateoftitleasprovidedinthisAct.

Section6.Theregisterofdeedsmaymotupropioreconstituteacertificateoftitlefromitscorrespondingowner's
duplicate,and,forthispurpose,maycompeltheregisteredowner,oranypersonholdingsuchowner'sduplicate,
tosurrenderthesametotheregistryofdeeds.Afterthereconstitutionsaidowner'sduplicateshallbereturnedto
thepersonconcerned.

Section7.Reconstitutedcertificatesoftitleshallhavethesamevalidityandlegaleffectastheoriginalsthereof:
Provided,however,Thatcertificatesoftitlereconstitutedextrajudicially,inthemannerstatedinsectionsfiveand
six hereof, shall be without prejudice to any party whose right or interest in the property was duly noted in the
original,atthetimeitwaslostordestroyed,butentryornotationofwhichhasnotbeenmadeonthereconstituted
certificateoftitle.Thisreservationshallbenotedasanencumbranceonthereconstitutedcertificateoftitle.

Section8.Anypersonwhoserightorinterestwasdulynotedintheoriginalofacertificateoftitle,atthetimeit
waslostordestroyed,butdoesnotappearsonotedonthereconstitutedcertificateoftitle,whichissubjecttothe
reservationprovidedintheprecedingsection,may,whilesuchreservationsubsists,fileapetitionwiththeproper
CourtofFirstInstancefortheannotationofsuchrightorinterestonsaidreconstitutedcertificateoftitle,andthe
court,afternoticeandhearing,shalldeterminethemeritsofthepetitionandrendersuchjudgmentasjusticeand
equitymayrequire.Thepetitionshallstatethenumberofthereconstitutedcertificateoftitleandthenature,as
wellasadescription,oftherightorinterestclaimed.

Section9. A registered owner desiring to have his reconstituted certificate of title freed from the encumbrance
mentionedinsectionsevenofthisAct,mayfileapetitiontothatendwiththeproperCourtofFirstInstance,giving
his reason or reasons therefor. A similar petition may, likewise, be filed by a mortgagee, lessees or other lien
holder whose interest is annotated in the reconstituted certificate of title. Thereupon, the court shall cause a
notice of the petition to be published, at the expense of the petitioner, twice in successive issues of the Official
Gazette, and to be posted on the main entrance of the provincial building and of the municipal building of the
municipalityorcityinwhichthelandlies,atleastthirtydayspriortothedateofhearing,andafterhearing,shall
determine the petition and render such judgment as justice and equity may require. The notice shall specify,
among other things, the number of the certificate of title, the name of the registered owner, the names of the
interested parties appearing in the reconstituted certificate of title, the location of the property, and the date on
which all persons having an interest in the property must appear and file such claim as they may have. The
petitionershall,atthehearing,submitproofofthepublicationandpostingofthenotice:Provided,however,That
aftertheexpirationoftwoyearsfromthedateofthereconstitutionofacertificateoftitle,ifnopetitionhasbeen
filedwithinthatperiodundertheprecedingsection,thecourtshall,onmotionexpartebytheregisteredowneror
otherpersonhavingregisteredinterestinthereconstitutedcertificateoftitle,ordertheregisterofdeedstocancel,
properannotation,theencumbrancementionedinsectionsevenhereof.

Section10.Nothinghereinbeforeprovidedshallpreventanyregisteredownerorpersonininterestfromfilingthe
petition mentioned in section five of this Act directly with the proper Court of First Instance, based on sources
enumerated in sections 2(a), 2(b), 3(a), 3(b), and/or 4(a) of this Act: Provided, however, That the court shall
cause a notice of the petition, before hearing and granting the same, to be published in the manner stated in
sectionninehereof:Andprovided,further,Thatcertificatesoftitlereconstitutedpursuanttothissectionshallnot
besubjecttotheencumbrancereferredtoinsectionsevenofthisAct.

Section11.Petitionsforreconstitutionofregisteredinterests,liensandotherencumbrances,basedonsources
enumeratedinsections4(b)and/or4(c)ofthisAct,shallbefiled,bytheinterestedparty,withtheproperCourtof
First Instance. The petition shall be accompanied with the necessary documents and shall state, among other
things, the number of the certificate of title and the nature as well as a description of the interest, lien or
encumbrancewhichistobereconstituted,andthecourt,afterpublication,inthemannerstatedinsectionnineof
this Act, and hearing shall determine the merits of the petition and render such judgment as justice and equity
mayrequire.

Section12.Petitionsforreconstitutionfromsourcesenumeratedinsections2(c),2(d),2(e),2(f),3(c),3(d),3(e)
and/or3(f)ofthisAct,shallbefiledwiththeproperCourtofFirstInstance,bytheregisteredowner,hisassigns,
or any person having an interest in the property. The petition shall state or contain, among other things, the
following:(a)thattheowner'sduplicateofthecertificateoftitlehadbeenlostordestroyed(b)thatnocoowner's
mortgagee's or lessee's duplicate had been issued, or, if any had been issued, the same had been lost or
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destroyed(c)thelocation,areaandboundariesoftheproperty(d)thenatureanddescriptionofthebuildingsor
improvements,ifany,whichdonotbelongtotheowneroftheland,andthenamesandaddressesoftheowners
ofsuchbuildingsorimprovements(e)thenamesandaddressesoftheoccupantsorpersonsinpossessionof
theproperty,oftheownersoftheadjoiningpropertiesandallpersonswhomayhaveanyinterestintheproperty
(f)adetaileddescriptionoftheencumbrances,ifany,affectingthepropertyand(g)astatementthatnodeedsor
otherinstrumentsaffectingthepropertyhavebeenpresentedforregistration,or,iftherebeany,theregistration
thereofhasnotbeenaccomplished,asyet.Allthedocuments,orauthenticatedcopiesthereof,tobeintroduced
inevidenceinsupportofthepetitionforreconstitutionshallbeattachedtheretoandfiledwiththesame:Provided,
That in case the reconstitution is to be made exclusively from sources enumerated in section 2(f) of 3(f) of this
Act, the petition shall be further be accompanied with a plan and technical description of the property duly
approved by the Chief of the General Land Registration Office, or with a certified copy of the description taken
fromapriorcertificateoftitlecoveringthesameproperty.

Section13.Thecourtshallcauseanoticeofthepetition,filedundertheprecedingsection,tobepublished,at
the expense of the petitioner, twice in successive issues of the Official Gazette, and to be posted on the main
entrance of the provincial building and of the municipal building of the municipality or city in which the land is
situated,atleastthirtydayspriortothedateofhearing.Thecourtshalllikewisecauseacopyofthenoticetobe
sent, by registered mail or otherwise, at the expense of the petitioner, to every person named therein whose
addressisknown,atleastthirtydayspriortothedateofhearing.Saidnoticeshallstate,amongotherthings,the
numberofthelostordestroyedcertificateoftitle,ifknown,thenameoftheregisteredowner,thenamesofthe
occupantsorpersonsinpossessionoftheproperty,theownersoftheadjoiningpropertiesandallotherinterested
parties,thelocation,areaandboundariesoftheproperty,andthedateonwhichallpersonshavinganyinterest
thereinmustappearandfiletheirclaimorobjectionstothepetition.Thepetitionershall,atthehearing,submit
proofofthepublication,postingandserviceofthenoticeasdirectedbythecourt.

Section 14. If any person withholds, refuses or fails within a reasonable time after request, to produce a
documentorpaperwithoutwhichthereconstitutionofacertificateoftitle,oranylienorannotationaffectingthe
same,cannotbefullyaccomplished,thecourtmay,onmotionandafternoticeandhearingordersuchpersonto
produceand/orsurrendersuchdocumentorpaperatthetimeandplacenamedintheorderandmayenforcethe
samebysuitableprocess.

Section15.Ifthecourt,afterhearing,findsthatthedocumentspresented,assupportedbyparoleevidenceor
otherwise, are sufficient and proper to warrant the reconstitution of the lost or destroyed certificate of title, and
thatthepetitioneristheregisteredownerofthepropertyorhasaninteresttherein,thatthesaidcertificateoftitle
wasinforceatthetimeitwaslostordestroyed,andthatthedescription,areaandboundariesofthepropertyare
substantially the same as those contained in the lost or destroyed certificate of title, an order of reconstitution
shallbeissued.Theclerkofcourtshallforwardtotheregisterofdeedsacertifiedcopyofsaidorderandallthe
documentswhich,pursuanttosaidorder,aretobeusedasthebasisofthereconstitution.Ifthecourtfindsthat
there is no sufficient evidence or basis to justify the reconstitution, the petition shall be dismissed, but such
dismissalshallnotprecludetherightofthepartyorpartiesentitledtheretotofileanapplicationforconfirmationof
hisortheirtitleundertheprovisionsoftheLandRegistrationAct.

Section16.AfterthereconstitutionofacertificateoftitleundertheprovisionsofthisAct,theregisterofdeeds
shall issue the corresponding owner's duplicate and the additional copies of said certificates of title, if any had
beenpreviouslyissued,wheresuchowner'sduplicateand/oradditionalcopieshavebeendestroyedorlost.This
factshallbenotedonthereconstitutedcertificateoftitle.

Section 17. The register of deeds shall certify on each certificate of title reconstituted the date of the
reconstitution, the source or sources from which reconstitution has been accomplished, and whether
administrativelyorjudicially.

Section 18. In case a certificate of title, considered lost or destroyed, be found or recovered, the same shall
prevail over the reconstituted certificate of title, and, if both titles appear in the name of the same registered
owner,allmemorandaofnewliensorencumbrances,ifany,madeonthelatter,afteritsreconstitution,exceptthe
memorandum of the reservation referred to in section seven of this Act, shall be transferred to the recovered
certificate of title. Thereupon, the register of deeds shall cancel the reconstituted certificate of title and spread
upon the owner's duplicate, as well as on the coowner's, mortgagee's or lessee's duplicate, if any has been
issued,suchannotationsofsubsistingliensorencumbrancesasmayappearontherecoveredcertificateoftitle,
cancelling at the same time the memorandum of the reservation referred to in section seven hereof: Provided,
however, That if the reconstituted certificate of title has been cancelled by virtue of any deed or instrument,
whether voluntary or involuntary, or by an order of the court, and a new certificate of title has been issued, the
recoveredcertificateoftitleshallbelikewisecancelled,butallsubsistingliensorencumbrances,ifany,appearing
thereonshallbetransferredtothenewcertificateoftitleandtoitsowner'sduplicate,aswellastoanycoowner's,
mortgagee'sorlessee'sduplicatethatmayhavebeenissued,thememorandumofthereservationreferredtoin
sectionsevenofthisAct,ifany,beingtherebyipsofactocancelled.

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Section19.Ifthecertificateoftitleconsideredlostordestroyed,andsubsequentlyfoundorrecovered,isnotin
thenameofthesamepersoninwhosefavorthereconstitutedcertificateoftitlehasbeenissued,theregisterof
deedsshouldbringthemattertotheattentionoftheproperCourtofFirstInstance,which,afterduenoticeand
hearing, shall order the cancellation of the reconstituted certificate of title and render, with respect to the
memoranda of new liens or encumbrances, if any, made in the reconstituted certificate of title, after its
reconstitution, such judgment as justice and equity may require: Provided, however, That, if the reconstituted
certificateoftitlehasbeencancelledbyvirtueofanydeedorinstrument,whethervoluntaryorinvoluntary,orby
anorderofthecourt,andanewcertificateoftitlehasbeenissued,theprocedureprescribedabove,withrespect
tomemorandaofnewliensorencumbrancesmadeonthereconstitutedcertificateoftitle,afteritsreconstitution,
shallbefollowedwithrespecttothenewcertificateoftitle,andtosuchnewliensorencumbrances,ifany,asmay
havebeenmadeonthelatteraftertheissuancethereof.

Section20.Iftheregisteredowneroranyotherpersonwithholds,refusesorfails,withinareasonabletimeafter
request, to produce the owner's duplicate or any other duplicate of a certificate of title, for cancellation or
annotationasprovidedinsectionseighteenandnineteenofthisAct,theregisterofdeedsshallreportthefactto
the proper Court of First Instance and the court, after notice and hearing, may order the person concerned to
producetheduplicateinhispossessionatthetimeandplacenamedintheorder,andmayenforcethesameby
suitableprocess.

Section21.Inallcaseswherethereconstitutedcertificateoftitledoesnotcontainthefulltechnicaldescriptionof
theland,exceptwheresuchtechnicaldescriptioniscontained,inapriorcertificateoftitlewhichisavailable,the
registeredownershall,withintwoyearsfromthedateofthereconstitution,fileaplanofsuchlandwiththeChief
oftheGeneralLandRegistrationOffice,who,afterapprovingthesame,shallfurnishtheregisterofdeedswitha
copy of the technical description of said land for annotation on the proper certificate of title and file. After the
expiration of the period above prescribed, no transfer certificate of title shall be issued in pursuance of any
voluntaryinstrumentuntilsuchplanandtechnicaldescriptionshallhavebeenfiledandnotedasprovidedabove.

Section22. Every petition filed with the court under this Act shall be sworn to by the petitioner or the person
acting in his behalf and filed and entitled in the land registration or cadastral case in which the decree of
registration was entered. If the petition relates to a certificate of title originally issued under the provisions of
section one hundred twentytwo of Act Numbered Four hundred and ninetysix and the property has been
includedinacadastralsurvey,thepetitionshallbefiledinthecorrespondingcadastralcase:Provided,however,
Thatwherethepropertyhasnotbeenincludedinacadastralsurvey,orwherethelandregistrationorcadastral
case has been lost or destroyed and/or the number thereof cannot be identified, the petition shall be filed in a
specialcasetobeentitled"Specialproceedingsforreconstitutionoflostcertificateoftitle."

Section23.NofeesshallbechargedforthefilingofanypetitionunderthisAct,norforanyservicerendered,in
connectiontherewithorincompliancewithanyprovisionofthisAct,bytheChiefoftheGeneralLandRegistration
Office,clerksofCourtofFirstInstance,sheriffs,and/orregisterofdeeds.Anycertifiedcopyofdocumentorpaper
thatmaybenecessaryinthereconstitutionofacertificateoftitleunderthisActshall,uponrequestofthecourt,
registerofdeeds,orChiefoftheGeneralLandRegistrationOffice,befurnishedfreeofcharge,byanyofficeor
branchoftheGovernment,includingGovernmentcontrolledcorporations,institutionsorinstrumentalities.

Section24.TheChiefoftheGeneralLandRegistrationOffice,withtheapprovaloftheSecretaryofJustice,shall
issue rules, regulations, circulars and instructions, and prescribe such books and blank form, as may be
necessarytocarryintoeffecttheprovisionsofthisAct.

Section25. Sections seventysix, seventyseven and eightynine of Act Numbered Thirtyone hundred and ten
areherebydeclaredinoperative,insofarastheyprovideforthereconstitutionofcertificatesoftitle.

Section26.ThisActshalltakeeffectonitsapproval.

Approved:September25,1946

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